Burial container or casket



Oct. 19, 1937. E. M. STROM BURIAL CONTAINER OR CASKET Filed April 30, 1936 4 a4 fifi /B m Li Q 03 w n 5 i 2 n 2 w w 2 1? 2 im pr 0 WW 2 j 3 V V Patented Oct; 19, 1937 BURIAL CONTAINER OR CASKET Edward M. Strom, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gentral Metallic Gasket 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 30, 1936, Serial No. 77,127

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to burial containers or caskets and has particular reference to metal caskets having an inner metal container of a novel construction and provided with novel 51 means for hermetically sealing same.

Heretofore, many of the sealed inner containers were ineffective in the means provided for hermetically sealing same. In some constructions the sealing means or gasket was attached 10 to the movable cover and unless great care was taken in itshandling the gasket would become loosened or displaced so that its sealing function 'was impaired. In other instances, the clamping or securing means were connected with bolts orother means which passed through the body or wall of the inner container thus providing openings around such bolts which were diflicult and expensive to seal. One of the objects of my invention is to pro- 20 vide clamping means supported entirely exteriorly of the walls and cover of the inner container'and to so constructand seal the various parts of the body and'cover of the inner container that the only portion required to be sealed 25 after repose; of the body of the deceased'therein is the joint between the marginal rim of the cover and the upper rim of the side and end walls of the container. Another'object of my invention is found in '30 the novel sealing gasket and in the design and arrangement of the parts 'for supporting the sealing gasket on the upper rim of the walls of the inner container. v Still another object of my invention resides 35 in the provision of a bead on the lower face of the marginal rim of the cover which is adapted to Y be imbedded in the sealing gasket to thereby increase the effectiveness of the seal 'therebetween. A further objectof my invention resides in the 40 novel construction otthefcover for theinner container and in the novel construction or the upper rim of the walls ofthe inner container which novel features tend to increase the effectiveness of the sealing therebetween and the structural properties thereof. l A' further object of my invention is found in the novel construction of'the upper rim of the {walls of the outer case which is adapted to securely support spaced clamping means and which 50 rim is designed or formed to'receive and support the peripheral channeled-edge of the upper rim of the walls of the inner container and to confine the inner container against lateral displacement.

1 5 With fthe'above and other objects View, my

invention consists in the novel combination, con-. struction and arrangement of the parts and members shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawing, described in the following specifications and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the" attached illustrations,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a casket embodying my invention; a portion of the figure being broken away to show details of the construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 2-'-2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged cross-section through the upper portions of the side or end Walls of the casket.

For purposes of illustration the invention as shown in the drawing is applied to a metal casket and it will be understood that the invention may readily be applied to wood caskets or burial containers of other materials.

In the illustrations, the inner container is generally designated by numeral Ill and the outer container by H.

The outer metallic container l I includes the side walls l2, end walls I3, bottom l4 and a cover I5 hinged at l6 tothe side wall l2.

The inner metallic container ll] includes the side walls [1, end walls I8, bottom l9 and a cover generally designated by numeral 20.

Obviously the sides and ends of the walls as well as the cover of the outer case or container may be shaped to conform to any suitable or desired exterior design.

As shown in the attached drawing, the upper rim 2| of the side and end walls of the outer container H is bent right-angularly inwardly and then downwardly and inwardly and upwardly to form a channeled recess 22 one side of which is defined by the upstanding inner edge portion 23 of rim 2|.

The horizontal outer portion of the rim 22 constitutes a supporting ledge for the outer cover IS.

The inner or under-side of the face of the rim ledge 2l is preferably reenforoed with a bar 24 soldered or welded in place adjacently to one side of the recess 22. This bar 24 extends under the rim ledge of the side and end walls and at spaced intervals is threaded to receive the tight ening bolts 25 of the clamps 26.

The clamp 26 constitutes a vertically disposed portion 26 having a tubular passage 26 adapted to slidably receive the tightening bolt 25, and an integral laterally disposed clamping arm 25.

' ,As illustrated in the attached drawing, the

stery is provided near the top of the walls of.

the inner container. This nailing strip 30 is secured to the metal walls by spaced narrow metal straps 3| soldered to the walls I! and [8.

The inner container It is provided with a seali ing gasket 32 extending the full length of 'the' marginal rim of the side and end walls. The

gasket 32 may be of any suitable cross-section,

however, the preferable gasket indicated in the drawing consists of a strip of resilient material such as, for example, rubber of a cross-section comprising a lower stem, portion 32 of substantially rectangular section having an enlarged upper integral head portion 32 of increased cross-section formed'with a flattened top face 32 and curved or beveled sides 32 If desirable the sides of thestem portion 32 may be slightly tapered downwardly to afford a wedgelike fitting of same in the recess 21.

The gasket stem 32 is adapted to be forcibly pressed into secured position within the channeled recess 27 of the marginal rim of the inner container Ill so that the extended sides of the head 32 firmly engage the upper faces of the horizontal sections of the marginal rim of the inner container thus providing a sealing contact with five angularly disposed faces of such marginal rim.

The cover 20 may be described as comprising a rim member generally designated by 33 and including a horizontal portion 33 having a flanged downwardly bent side portion 33 and an opposite side portion comprising an angularly, downwardly and outwardly disposed portion- 33 terminating in clamp-engageable marginal sides and ends of substantially rectangular cross-section, designated in the .drawing'by numeralv 33 and adapted to embrace a metal reenforcing bar 33 of rectangular cross-section.

The edge of the upstanding portion 33 is soldered or welded to the inner face of the angularly dispo'sedportion 33.

The cover 20 is provided with a glass panel 34 supported between the flanged side 33 and a member 35 of angular cross-section soldered or welded to the rim portion 33 and set in suitable sealing cement indicated by numeral 36.

The cover rim portion extending between the clamp-engageable sides and-ends and the glassretaining angle 35 is preferably reenforced by an angularly bent plate 3-! having its sides soldered or welded respectively to the end of portion 33 and the angular member 35.

In order to secure a more effective seal between the'lower face of the clamp-engageable portion 33 and the face 32 of the gasket 32, I prefer to form such'lower face of the clampengageable portion 33 with a head of preferably V section which will become embedded into the face 32 of the gasket when the cover 20 is mounted on the inner container l0 and clampingly pressed into sealing position by the clamparms 26 upon tightening of the clamp bolts 25.

As clearly shown in the drawing, the outer container cover I5 is formed with an inwardly bent flanged marginal rim. 38 which is adapted to be supported on the horizontal ledge portion 2|.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in construction of parts and members and in their sizes or proportions within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' For purposes of brevity, the side and end walls of the containersare designated in'the claims by the term walls, unless specifically required to be distinguished one from the other; andthe term burial casket embraces any burial container such as, for example, one made of metal, wood or concrete, except where specifically defined, as obviously my invention may be readily adapted to or applied to burial containers constructed of various materials.

I claim:

1. A burial container including an outer case, a-ledgedisposed inwardly of and on the walls of the outer case, a cover for said outer case, an inner case, a ledge disposed outwardly Of and on the walls of the inner case having a gasket recess extending longitudinally thereof, a gasket supported in said gasket recess, said ledge of the outer case being arranged to confine said inner case against lateral displacement, a cover for said inner case adapted to rest on said gasket,

and means supported on said outer case adapted to forcibly secure said inner-case cover to hermetically seal the inner case.

2. A burial container including an outer case, 7

a ledge disposed inwardly of and on thewalls of the outer'case, a cover for said outer case, an

inner case, a ledge disposed outwardly of and on thewalls ofthe inner'case adjacent to said outercase ledge and having agasket recess: extending longitudinally thereof, a gasket supported in said gasket recess, said ledge of the outer case being arranged to confine said-inner case against lateral displacemenaa cover for said inner case adapted to rest on said gasket, and means supported onsaid outer case exteriorly of the Walls and cover of the inner case and adapted to forcibly secure said inner-case cover to hermetically seal the inner case.

3. A burial casket comprising an outer container having walls including an inwardly disposed ledge with a recess extending longitudinally thereof, a cover for said outercontainer, an inner 'containerhaving' Walls including an outwardly disposed ledge with a gasket recess extending longitudinally thereof, a gasket supported in said gasket recess, the recessed ledge portion of the inner container being adapted to interfit within the recess of the ledge of the outer container, a cover for said innercontainer having a marginal rim adapted to rest on 'said gasket, and. clamping means supported. on the outer container adapted to forcibly secure said inner container cover to hermetically seal the'inner container.

4. A'burialcasket including an outer container, a ledge disposed inwardlyof and on the walls of the outer containerandhaving a recess extending longitudinally thereof, a cover for said outer container adaptedto-be supported on said ledge, an inner container, a ledge disposed outwardly of and on the walls of said inner container and having a gasket recess extending longitudinally inner containerhaving a marginalrimadapted to 315 V rest on said gasket, and means supported on the outer container exteriorly of said inner container adapted to forcibly secure said inner-container cover to hermetically seal the inner container.

' 5. A metallic burialcasket including an outer metallic container, a ledge formedintegrally with and inwardly of the walls of said outer container and having'a channeled recess formed therein near the inner marginal edge thereof, a cover for said outer container adapted to be'supported on said ledge, an inner metallic container, a ledge formed integrally with and outwardly of the walls of said inner container and having a longitudinally extending gasket recess therein, the recessed portion of the ledge of'said inner container being adapted to betinterlocked within the recess of the ledge of said. outer container, a gasket sup ported in said gasket recess, a cover for said inner containerhaving a marginal rim adapted to rest on said gasket, and means supported on the outer container, for forcibly clamping the rim of said inner-container cover on said gasket to hermetically seal the inner container. I 6, A metallic burial casket including an outer -metallic'container the upper rim of the walls of which are formed withan inwardly bent integral ledge having a longitudinally extending inwardly disposed channeled recess at its inner margin, a reenforcing member secured to the lower face of saidledgebetween said channeled recess and its outer margin, a cover for said outer container supported on saidledge, an inner metallic containerthe upper rimof the walls of which are formed with an outwardly bent integral ledge having a longitudinally extending inwardly dispo'sed'channeled gasket-retaining recess, the recessed portion of the ledge of the inner container being adapted to be interposed in interlocking position within the recess of the ledge of the outer container, aresilient gasket supported in said gasket-retaining recess and the upper face of said gasket being disposed above the face of the inner container ledge, a cover for said inner container including a glass panel supported in a sheet metal frame having a marginal rim formed; of a bentmarginal portion of said sheet metal frame with a reenforcing bar secured within said bent marginal gasket and said clamping members'being adapted to be forcibly clamped onto said marginal rim of said inner container cover by said tightening bolts to thereby hermetically seal the inner container.

7. In a burial container as embodied in claim 1 and including said gasket of resilient material of a solid cross-section comprising a lower stem portion and an upper portion of enlarged crosssectional area formed integrally with said stem portion, said upper enlarged portion above said stem portion being of segmental cross-section, and a bead on the underside of said inner case cover adapted to be embedded in the upper portion of the segmental face of the gasket when the inner case cover is secured in sealing position.

8. A burial container comprising an outer case, a cover for said outer case, a separate inner case mounted within said outer case, a separate cover for said inner case, a gasket extending between said inner case and its cover adapted to hermetically seal said inner case, and pressure-exerting means mounted exteriorly of said inner case and its cover without penetration of the walls thereof, adapted to secure said inner case cover onto said inner case to compress said gasket and thereby cause a hermetic seal therebetween.

9. A burial container comprising an outer case, a cover for said outer case, a separate inner case mounted within said outer case, a separate cover for said inner case, a gasket extending between said inner case and its cover adapted to hermetically seal said inner case, and pressure-exerting means mounted exteriorly of said inner case and its cover and supported on said outer case, adapted to secure said inner case cover onto said inner case to compress said gasket and thereby cause a hermetic seal therebetween, said pressure-exerting means being so positioned relatively to said outer case that said means is concealed from exterior View when the cover for said outer case is closed.

I 10. A burial container including an outer case, a cover for said outer case, an inner case, a ledge disposed outwardly of and around the walls of the inner case having a gasket recess extending longitudinally thereof, a gasket supported in said gasket recess, means within said outer case adapted to confine said inner case against lateral displacement within the outer case, a cover for said inner case adapted to rest on said gasket, and means supported on said outer case adapted to forcibly secure said inner-case cover to hermetically seal the inner case.

EDWARD M. STROM. 

